So, both teams healthy...the 2004-05 team would take us in a seven-game series, and it's not based on just that above. The 2004-05 team, coached by Rudy (pre-Hamblen), held teams to around 43.8% FG. The Spurs (who were an incredible defensive team) held opponents to 42.6% FG that year.

That particular squad was top ten in both ORtg and DRtg at that time.

The month of April (no Odom, no Rudy T, Kobe playing hurt) turned us into arguably the worst team in the league. We were absolutely dreadful.

People talk about the 2004-05 season being a team that just didn't get it done, but that's a simple way to look at it. Once we lost our coach, lost Odom AND had Kobe out for an extended amount of time (and then playing injured), we were done. Before that? We were a playoff team that played pretty good defense, with the best player in basketball.